Wireless oil filter sensor

Abstract

A wireless oil filter sensing system includes an oil filter and a sensing mechanism that is connectable to the oil filter. The sensing mechanism includes one or more acoustic wave sensing elements and at least one antenna that communicate with the acoustic wave sensing element(s). An external interrogation system could excite the acoustic wave sensing element(s) wireless and passively. When the acoustic wave sensing elements are in contact with oil contained in the oil filter, the acoustic wave sensing elements detect acoustic waves associated with the oil in response to an excitation of the acoustic wave sensing elements, thereby generating data indicative of the quality of the oil for wireless transmission through the antenna(s).

1. A wireless oil filter sensing system, comprising:
 an oil filter; 
 a sensing mechanism that is connectable to said oil filter, wherein said sensing mechanism comprises at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element and at least one antenna that communicates with said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element, wherein when said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element is in contact with oil contained in said oil filter, said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element detects acoustic waves associated with said oil in response to an excitation of said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element; and 
 a pattern recognition module that recognizes varying grades of said oil based on at least one signal transmitted by said antenna thereby generating data indicative of a quality of said oil for wireless transmission through said at least one antenna. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said excitation of said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element occurs in response to at least one wireless signal transmitted to said at least one antenna. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 1  wherein said acoustic waves associated with said oil comprise flexural plate waves. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver which communicates with said sensing mechanism and said pattern recognition module. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 4  wherein said pattern recognition module identifies a viscosity of said oil based on said at least one signal transmitted by said antenna. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 4  wherein said pattern recognition module identifies a degradation of said oil based on said at least on signal transmitted by said antenna. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 1  wherein said data indicative of a quality of said oil comprises phase and amplitude data. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 4  wherein said data indicative of a quality of said oil comprises phase and amplitude data. 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element comprises a flexural plate wave (FPW) sensing element. 
   
   
     10. A wireless oil filter sensing system, comprising:
 an oil filter; and 
 a sensing mechanism that is connectable to said oil filter, wherein said sensing mechanism comprises at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element and at least one antenna that communicates with said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element, wherein when said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element is in contact with oil contained in said oil filter, said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element detects acoustic waves associated with said oil in response to an excitation of said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element, thereby generating phase and amplitude data indicative of a quality of said oil for wireless transmission through said at least one antenna and wherein said excitation of said at least one acoustic wave sensing element occurs in response to at least one wireless signal transmitted to said antenna; and 
 a pattern recognition module that based on said at least one signal transmitted by said antenna recognizes varying grades of said oil based on at least one signal transmitted by said antenna, identifies a viscosity of said oil, and identifies a degradation of said oil. 
 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 10  wherein said acoustic waves associated with said oil comprise flexural plate waves. 
   
   
     12. A wireless oil filter sensing method, comprising:
 providing an oil filter; 
 connecting a sensing mechanism to said oil filter, wherein said sensing mechanism comprises at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element and at least one antenna that communicates with said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element, wherein when said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element is in contact with oil contained in said oil filter, said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element detects acoustic waves associated with said oil in response to an excitation of said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element, thereby generating phase and amplitude data indicative of a quality of said oil for wireless transmission through said at least one antenna; and 
 utilizing a pattern recognition module to recognize varying grades of said oil based on at least one signal transmitted by said at least one antenna. 
 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising transmitting at least one wireless signal transmitted to said at least one antenna in order to excite said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 12  wherein said acoustic waves associated with said oil flexural plate waves. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 12  further utilizing a pattern recognition module to recognize varying grades of said oil based on at least one signal transmitted by said at least one antenna. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 15  wherein said pattern recognition module identifies a viscosity of said oil based on said at least one signal transmitted by said at least one antenna. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 15  wherein said pattern recognition module identifies a degradation of said oil based on said at least on signal transmitted by said at least one antenna. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 12  further comprising configuring said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element to comprises a flexural plate wave (FPW) sensing element. 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing an interrogator comprising a transmitter and a receiver; 
 transmitting from said transmitter of said interrogator at least one signal in order to excite said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element to vibrate in at least one desired mode thereof through at least one antenna; and 
 receiving at said receiver at least one signal transmitted from said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element. 
 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing at least one antenna connected to said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element, such said at least one antenna receives at least one excitation signal in order to permit said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensing element to vibrate in at least one desired mode upon receipt of said excitation signals from an interrogator; and 
 transmitting from at least one antenna associated with said at least one bulk acoustic wave sensor, said data indicative of the quality of said engine oil to a receiver associated with an interrogator for receiving and collecting said data. 
 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 12  wherein said at least one antenna comprises at least one of the following types of antennas: a linear type antenna or a coupler type antenna.